Will the McKinney Chamber PAC continue to endorse political candidates?

Chamber board members mull decision as MEDC gives Chamber Dec. 31 deadline to possibly withdraw co-funding of the BREP program

By Brandi Hart
McKinneyUpdate.com

Created at 10:45 p.m. on Dec. 30, 2008

McKinney Chamber of Commerce board members met in a two hour long meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 30 to discuss if the Chamber's political action committee should continue endorsing local city council and McKinney ISD board of trustee candidates in upcoming election.

The McKinney Economic Development Corporation's board voted to send a letter to the chamber's executive board after the MEDC board met in October that said if the Chamber PAC endorsed candidates in upcoming city and school elections that it would cease co-funding the Business Retention and Expansion Program, that is jointly funded by the Chamber and the MEDC.

If the chamber PAC, the Committee to Inform Voters on Business Issues and Candidates, endorses candidates in the upcoming Jan. 17 special election for the District 3 council seat or the May general city and school board election, then the MEDC could absorb the full cost of the BREP program, said MEDC Board Chairman Stan McWilliams in an interview on Nov. 25.

The Chamber board members did not take any action after the meeting, but a draft letter was sent to various board members for approval and review after the meeting, which will be sent to the members of the MEDC's Board of Directors after the wording of the letter is approved, said Interim Chamber President Terrie Keith. The letter could be submitted to the MEDC board members and staff on Dec. 31.

The MEDC and the Chamber both agree that the BREP program is invaluable to McKinney and will continue to be funded by either the MEDC or the Chamber, said MEDC President and Chief Executive Officer David Pitstick. The MEDC board will discuss the Chamber board's response to its request at the MEDC's January meeting, Pistick said.

The Chamber PAC endorsed McKinney ISD School Board member Dick Stephens' bid for the school board and former council candidate Sherry Tucker David's bid for the at-large council seat in the May general election. The PAC has also endorsed Collin County Commissioner for Pct. 3 Joe Jaynes' bid for re-election in the March Republican primary election this year, and has also endorsed legislative measures to help expand light rail service in Collin County. The endorsements for the May general city and school board elections was the first time the PAC had endorsed local school board and city candidates.